Me and Phinny in the parking lot of the shelter. This was our first of many photos together. Taken by my Mom. I so wish we could take one today.
September 18th will forever be my favorite day of the year. Today is my dog Phinny’s 15th birthday and 14th Gotcha Day. My first without him as he once was. His first over the rainbow bridge. In his honor, I made donations to Animal Care Centers of New York City to help homeless pets in our city and to White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary near Buffalo, New York to help homeless senior dogs with medical issues.
14 years ago today I took a train to a shelter in Harriman, New York to rescue a dachshund that New York Dachshund Rescue told me about. I had been talking to them for a few months about rescuing an adult black and tan male dachshund because I’d heard adult dogs who are black are less likely to get adopted than others. (This is actually not true though at the time it was a persistent online story.) They told me there was a little guy who matched my description in a very underfunded shelter. Even if I wasn’t sure if I was ready to adopt, if I could just go get him they’d help me find him a permanent home. I agreed. They didn’t even have a picture to send me much less any information about him other than his breed, sex, and color. His name was Beasley.
As I walked from the train station to the shelter, I was nervous. Was I ready to have a dog on my own in New York City? I had a demanding job. I’d never had a dog whom I was solely responsible for. I had a small apartment with not-so-pleasant neighbors. There were a million reasons to not get a dog and only one reason to get one — I really wanted a dog.
To calm down, I reminded myself that I had only committed to getting him out of this very underfunded shelter and fostering him. If it didn’t work out, we would find him a good home and I would have helped him on his journey. I walked into the lobby and said to the woman at the desk, “I’m here to get Beasley.” She sighed, and went into the back.
Less than a minute later, a little black and tan wire-haired dachshund wiggled out into the lobby. That was it. Love at first sight. This was my dog. I picked him up and he happily gave me a smooch as if to say, “I’m so glad you found me. Let’s go!”
“You want him?” the woman asked.
“I’ll definitely take him,” I said.
“200 dollars. Cash or check.”
I wrote a check for $200. She handed me an envelope with some health papers and we stepped out into the world together. Me and my dog, Phineas. We never looked back. I miss you every day, bud. Happy birthday. Happy Gotcha Day. Thank you for being my boy all these years.
The short of it:
Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day.
The long of it:
My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events.
While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series.
A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist.
My company:
I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media:
• I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference;
• I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable;
• I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me.
Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
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Christa Avampato 